Hundreds gathered in Los Angeles on Aug. 30 for the 8th annual Women In Green Forum, a premier conference series highlighting women’s impact on the environmental industry. Influencers from some of the world’s leading brands discussed game-changing products and services in sustainability that are shaping a future based on clean and green living.

The day offered a blend of interactive sessions, spotlight presentations, curated tech demos and a clean vehicle ride and drive hosted by American Honda (AHM). As forum attendees took a test-drive in the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, they also received information from AHM representatives about Honda’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.

“At Honda, we are passionate about developing products that reduce our environmental impact,” said Raminta Jautokas, manager of Corporate Sustainability at AHM. “Honda has committed to a voluntary target for the electrification of two-thirds of our total global vehicle sales by the year 2030.”
For the fourth year, American Honda has sponsored the event’s Youth Leadership Program, which includes scholarships to recruit high school and college students to attend the Women In Green Forum and a mentorship program that connects professionals with students looking to enter the environmental industry.

Each year, one full-time student in the Youth Leadership Program is recognized with the Youth Trailblazer Award for her commitment to engaging the next generation in sustainability and environmental activism.

Zola Berger-Schmitz, was the recipient of the 2017 Youth Trailblazer Award and a $1,000 scholarship. Berger-Schmitz is a Los Angeles native who is studying Political Science and Music at Emory University.
For the past seven years, Berger-Schmitz has been giving environmental advocacy speeches at international, national and community events, including legislative hearings, youth summits and TEDx. She was a youth delegate at the United Nations 2016 Climate Talks, and she has also authored blogs and articles about youth environmental advocacy.

“This event is really focused on Women In Green and women in the environmental field, so it shows that Honda really does support events like that and who knows, maybe in the long run somebody here will work for Honda someday,” said Jautokas.